2023 Land Rover Defender Transmission
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WARNING
Park (P) should only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary. If any other gear position is selected while the vehicle is stationary, the vehicle can move unexpectedly, which may result in death or serious injury. Always make sure the Electric Parking Brake (EPB) is applied after engaging P.
WARNING
Do not allow the vehicle to remain stationary with a drive gear selected and the engine running. If the engine is to idle for a prolonged period, select P or Neutral (N) and apply the Electric Parking Brake (EPB). The vehicle may move unexpectedly with any other gear position selected, which may result in serious injury or death.
CAUTION
Never select P while the vehicle is in motion. Doing so can result in serious transmission damage.
CAUTION
Never select Reverse (R) while the vehicle is in forwarding motion. Doing so can result in serious transmission damage.
CAUTION
Never select a forward gear while the vehicle is moving backward. Doing so can result in serious transmission damage.
The gear selection status of the gear selector and the steering wheel’s paddle shift is displayed in the instrument panel. The appropriate indicator light on top of the gear selector, illuminates to confirm selection.
NOTES
When the gear selector is released, after a normal operation, it returns to the central position, except for when in the Sport (S) position.
NOTES
If the driver’s door is opened and the brake pedal is released, while the vehicle is stationary, then P will be automatically selected. Once P has been automatically selected, if R, N, Drive (D), or S is reselected, P is not automatically selected again unless the driver’s door is closed and reopened.
- Press to select P. The P indicator lamp illuminates to confirm. Select P before switching off the engine.
NOTES
P can be selected from any gear selector position.
NOTES
P cannot be selected by manually moving the gear selector.
NOTES
If the ignition is switched off with N selected, the system waits for 10 minutes before automatically selecting P. With the EPB released, this procedure allows for the vehicle to be conveyed through a car wash and should not be used for vehicle recovery purposes.
- When the vehicle is stationary, press the brake pedal before selecting D, N, or R.
- With the brake pedal still pressed, press the button to allow the gear selector to be moved:
Forward a short way to select N.
Forward a long way to select R.
NOTES
The button must be pressed in order to make most gear selections. A button press is not required when selecting N from D or R. A button press is also not required when moving between S and D.
- While in D, move the gear selector one side movement to select S.
NOTES
Reverse this action to return to D.
- While in S, manual selection of the gears can be made by pulling the gear selector back for up-shifts and pushing forward for down-shifts. The manual gear selection status is displayed in the instrument panel.The relevant gear selector indicator shows the status of the manual gear selection:
Continuous illumination confirms the driver’s gear change request is recognized and selected.
On or off flashing confirms the driver’s gear change request is recognized but not selected.
- Paddle shifts: Allow for manual gear selection while in D or S. Lightly pull the left paddle for down-shifts, or lightly pull the right paddle for up-shifts. To exit manual mode, pull and hold the right paddle shift for approximately 1 second. The gear will return directly to the previous automatic operation in D or S.
PADDLE SHIFT:
Paddle shift use can be effective when rapid acceleration and engine braking are required. A gearshift indicator warning lamp illuminates briefly at the recommended (up-shift) gear change point. See GEARSHIFT (GREEN). If the gear selector remains in the D position, temporary use of the manual gear selection mode is held while the driver is accelerating. The manual decelerating, cornering, or continuing to request gearshift changes via the steering wheel paddle shifts.
NOTES
If continued use of the paddle shifts is required, select S.
The driver can configure the paddle shifts to be active in both D and S, or active in S only, via the touchscreen:
- Touch the Settings icon¹ from any screen.
- Touch the ALL soft key.
- Touch the Vehicle soft key.
- Touch the Convenience soft key.
- Touch the Gear shift paddles soft key.
- Touch the forward arrow in the box below Gear shift paddles active in to open the options menu.
- Choose Sport only or Drive and Sport.
- Touch the Exit icon² to return to the previously displayed screen.
Settings icon.¹
Exit icon.²
SELECTING HIGH AND LOW RANGE
CAUTION
Do not change from high range to low range while the vehicle is in motion. Doing so can result in damage to the transmission.
The Lo button is used to alternate the engagement of the transfer case between low range or high range.
NOTES
The Lo button only operates with the engine running.
NOTES
Low range should only be used in situations where low-speed maneuvering is necessary, including more extreme off-road conditions. High range should be selected for normal road driving.
Press the Lo button, located on the front control panel, to engage the transfer case into low range. The button’s LED indicator lamp flashes during the change and remains illuminated to confirm selection. The message center briefly displays the Low range selected message. The instrument panel also illuminates the low range warning lamp. See LOW RANGE (GREEN)
Press the Lo button again to engage the transfer case into high range. The button’s LED indicator lamp flashes during the change and extinguishes to confirm selection. The message center briefly displays the High range selected message. The low range warning lamp also extinguishes.
To change the transfer box range, operate as follows:
- Use the gear selector to engage Neutral (N).
- Press the Lo button to engage the transfer box into high or low range as required.
- After the range selection is confirmed, use the gear selector to engage the desired gear, Park (P), Reverse (R) or Drive (D).
The vehicle should be stationary with the engine running for low range selection.
High range can be selected with the vehicle is traveling at a speed of less than 37 mph (60 km/h).
NOTES
If the Lo button is pressed when the vehicle’s speed is too high, the instrument panel displays the maximum speed for the range change.
NOTES
If the Lo button is pressed before N is selected, the instrument panel displays a warning message.
LIMP-HOME MODE
If a transmission system fault is detected, the instrument panel displays the warning message Gearbox Fault. If possible, the vehicle should be carefully driven to the nearest place of safety. In this event, seek qualified assistance.
WARNING
The driver should be aware that the vehicle’s performance is reduced. Failure to take this into account when driving may result in accidents causing serious injury or death.
NOTES
Use of the steering wheel’s paddle shifts is disabled.
Some transmission faults may cause gear selector softlock. In this event, the gear selector can be moved, but it does not allow a gear request to be made until the ignition is switched off and on again. Either a flashing or permanent Neutral (N) gear status in the instrument panel indicates that the driver’s gear request cannot be engaged. In the event of a permanent N, directly select the required gear. In the event of flashing gear, select N first, and then select the required gear again.
If the transmission is still unable to engage the requested gear, contact a retailer/authorized repairer.